Bringing Ugly Back

In many ways, Australia is similar to the United States - style of dress, love of sports, driving culture, shopping culture, language (though my next post will include my running list of Australian - English translations).  And, for the most part, when I notice differences, they're reasonable.  With one important exception - the El Camino.  You remember the El Camino?  Of course you do.  The best thing about the El Camino is that it can bring people together in an unusual way - it's probably everyone's top-of-the-list ugliest car.  Apparently, this particular car aesthetic is a profound cultural divide.

Australia has brought ugly back.  

Now, it's not called the El Camino; but it is one.  And, I'm not talking about a bunch of old El Caminos driving around.  No.  Australia loves the El Camino so much that you can buy a new one - one that has actually been recently manufactured.  I'm serious.  Many of you won't believe me.  I've tried to get a photo of one, but by the time I get my camera ready, it has driven off.  This is now the top of my to-do list for my remaining days.

Check back in hopes of getting a sight of the newly resurrected Aussie version of the El Camino.

Addendum:  Ben and I went out and decided to snap some shots of El Caminos.  We limited the search to a single outing, during which we drove about 5 miles and saw an estimated 20 El Caminos.  Unfortunately, we saw most of them while we were driving and couldn't get a photo.  Though we did get two parked (photos below).  We missed photos of the best ones, including, but not limited to:  metallic mustard, canary yellow, chartreuse, black and gold, red white and blue (no, that's not a red one, a white one, and a blue one, I mean all three in one El Camino - it was fantastic), and the best - navy with yellow, orange, and red flames.

Queensland Can't Catch a Break

I decided to post a map.  Many people have asked me about the location of the recent flooding and now Cyclone Yasi.  On the map below, Queensland is the northeast part of Australia.  I have drawn an arrow approximating the path of Yasi (which has now headed inland through the interior, but as I write this, it has been downgraded to Category 2).  Also on the map is Brisbane, the most populated city in Queensland and 3rd largest in Australia (after Sydney then Melbourne).  Population about 2million.

Brief note on Yasi:  We watched a lot of the coverage on TV.  Facts change; these are the ones I am hearing now.  As Yasi hit northeastern Queensland, it was a Category 5 cyclone, winds about 270 k/hr.  News coverage is showing substantial damage following such a large cyclone (think about the post-Katrina photos).   But, Yasi is also leaving behind more flooding, which of course Queensland is not prepared to absorb (literally) as they haven't dried out from the flooding last month.  News coverage is saying that Yasi is the largest Cyclone to hit Australia.

So a brief note on the flooding:  I circled Brisbane on the map because much of the coverage was focused on Brisbane, which was hit very hard by the flooding.  But, a geographic reference that worked well for my mental map, was one that said the total area affected was as large as Germany and France, combined.  Most of the flooding was restricted to Queensland, though Victoria was also hit.  The worst natural disaster to ever hit Australia.

In true Aussie spirit, apparently it's the right time for a beer (last photo - taken post-Yasi).

Graphics below: map (basemap from Google Maps), Cyclone Yasi,  post-Yasi flooding, Brisbane flooding (from last month) - all photos from dailytelegraph.au.com

A Good Day With Gary

I know that I have posted a couple of horse-related topics.  Here's one more - I'll be brief.  Ben rode Gary this week and had, in my opinion, his best end-of-week demonstration.  It's important to remember that before these lessons in Australia, Ben only had about 10 hours of experience in English saddle (much more in Western saddle, but that's an entirely different game).  The instructors at the riding school here are very impressed with his improvement over the past several weeks.  Of course, he's a natural!

Anyway, like I said, this week he rode Gary.  Gary is a tough one to ride, but has some good payoffs (again testament to Ben's improving skills).  I like Gary because he comes to me when I call him and is very affectionate.  Ben likes Gary for those reasons, plus, when they're by themselves (i.e. not in a close group), Gary is quick and athletic.  Some examples: smooth and agile cantering around cones, fast rising-trot, steady during long riding sessions (doesn't get tired), and good jumping.  But, all of those qualities also require Ben to always attend to what's going on (i.e. an athletic horse will just be "more horse" sometimes).

Photos below:  Ben and Gary in a relaxed walk around the ring, Ben and Gary jumping, in post-jump canter, Ben and Nick preparing to get Gary ready (we were late to lessons that day, so, Nick helped Ben), remaining photos are Ben, Nick, and Gary getting ready for the "show"

Happy Australia Day

A belated happy Australia Day from Ben and Amy!  Australia Day is similar to July 4th in the United States.  It's the day Captain Cook "discovered" Australia.  The " " are there because of course Cook discovered Australia just as Columbus discovered America (i.e. original inhabitants are not really considered in the mix).  Well...that aside, Ben and I still celebrated - though in very American fashion.  We again went to Amy and Matt's house in Yass.  They made chicken wings, spinach dip, while Ben and I brought roasted root vegetables and brownie sundaes.  We then watched the two NFL playoff games.  Fortunately, I also brought some Melbourne Bitter (beer).  So, that beer probably made our party officially Australian.  We'll go with that.

We left their house about 8pm, which got us back to Canberra about 9pm.  At that time, Ben and I unknowingly joined-in the Aussie Day celebration.  A city event with live music and fireworks was planned (and in full-force) as we made our way back to our apartment.  We were driving down a main (if not THE main) thoroughfare in Canberra.  Traffic was horrid.  Then the fireworks started.  The highway immediately turned into a parking lot.  People just stopped their cars, got out, sat on their hoods and watched the fireworks.  I'm not kidding.  Seriously, this is a main road - 6 lanes (counting both directions).  And people just parked.  Ben and I laughed, said again how much we love Australia, and watched the fireworks.

Happy Australia Day.

The Aussies Sure Like Their Sports

So, I thought that Americans enjoyed their sports - and to be sure, they do.  But, not with the same...let's say, enthusiasm, as the Aussies.  And, I'm now convinced that they'll watch (and love) any sport.  As I mentioned in previous post, I was amazed at how much the baseball spectators loved the game, even though (at least many of those around me) didn't know the rules so well.  I'm also equally surprised about the enthusiasm for American football from many people I talk to (mostly in the gym) - only to realize they don't know most of the rules (but to be fair, football has many).  I actually had to demonstrate "holding."  I think I did a pretty good job of it, but then someone asked me why the penalty is 10 yards; I was stuck there.  Oh, yeah, then I had to take some grief about the field still being in yards and not meters.

But focus again on cricket.

Ben and I arrived in Australia in time for the Ashes.  Don't know what the Ashes is, that's OK, we didn't either.  You can be certain that we do now.  It's only the most important sporting event on the planet.  Wikipedia has a pretty good description of the Ashes at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes.  Anyway, the Ashes went on, and on, and on for what felt like weeks (actually it really may have been weeks).  Well, I thought the Aussies lost.  But, apparently they didn't just lose, they suffered an absolutely humiliating defeat, one that has shaken the very core of Australian sport.  Sounds dramatic?  Well, it is.  But, it's also true.  Truth is, I missed the Ashes as the match provided no-sound-needed entertainment while on the treadmill everyday (you really, really don't need sound when watching cricket).  In addition, most of you know that I don't always sleep well.  And apparently, an entire day of cricket broadcasting is not enough.  Replaying all night is required.  Helps with insomnia.  In that respect, cricket is as valuable as golf.  Before you golfies get upset  -- seriously, what's worse, laying in bed unable to sleep, or watching golf on TV -- now be honest, it's golf...on TV.

Then, before I knew it, the Ashes tests were over.  Back to insomnia and watching the news (I know, news is good).  Then, to my delight, what should appear?  Women's Ashes.  That should take me all the way through the rest of my stay here (well, not really, I have three more weeks, but it may be close).

Oh Humble Bagel, how we miss thee...

In many ways, Ben and I have really settled into life here in Canberra.  As an example, I had my first autopilot drive this morning.  The scene...it's Saturday morning and I have a Skype meeting with Bart at 11am (that's 4pm Friday afternoon in Eugene).  Ben and I are in the car driving to work and I find myself on my way to Ben's summer camp (in a different direction entirely).  Definitely one morning when I am glad for the abundance of traffic circles (easy to make a U-turn).

But, the one issue that will just never seem right...Australians simply do not understand the bagel.  It is difficult, but possible to find "bagels" here.  Getting to the point - they're nasty.  Hard and tasteless (hockey puck hard).  Seriously wrong.  As Ben and I were eating breakfast this morning - with English muffins substituting for the bagel, we lamented about the wonderful treasures at Humble Bagel.  Oh the selection.  And you know that there's really not a bad choice there.

So while I am enjoying the easily obtained English bitter (a brilliant beer and difficult to find in Eugene), there's still something missing - a good bagel.  Just realized how great a Humble Bagel bagel and an English bitter would be together.  Though not for breakfast, well maybe...this is Australia.

Canberra Cavalry Charge - well maybe not so much

Seems that Ben and I know something that many Canberrans don't know - this city has a baseball team.  The Canberra Cavalry is part of the Australian Baseball League (which has backing from Major League Baseball).  Along with the Cavalry, five other teams include:  Adelaide Bite, Brisbane Bandits (unfortunately as I write this much of Brisbane is going under water from the horrible flooding), Melbourne Aces, Perth Heat, and Sydney Blue Sox.  The new Canberra field seats a whopping 1500 people (no, I did NOT leave out a 0 - it's one thousand five hundred).

We attended the match-up with the Brisbane Bandits on Saturday night.  While the game was GREAT fun, it was not close, not by a long-shot.  Final score 16 - 7, with 11 of those 16 scored in the first two innings (thought we were in for an ugly night).  But, our guys (Ben and I have established ourselves as honorary Canberrans, at least in our minds) came to life somewhat and made the rest of the game, well..., not awful.  The infield is a bit lackluster.  I didn't know how many errors could take place on one play, but now I do know that it's at least 3.

Before wrapping this up, I have to note some of the highlights.  The fans were AWESOME!  While I found myself explaining many rules to those around me, their lack of baseball fan experience did not diminish their enthusiasm.  The ragging those poor Bandits took from the Canberra fans was extensive.  Cannot leave-out the scoreboard.  After Ben and I sat down, I looked at the scoreboard in the outfield only to notice that it was dark.  The man next to me explained that the scoreboard didn't work anymore (the field opened in November, so anymore???).  A manual scoreboard was at the top of the stands.  The fans sitting under this scoreboard were responsible for keeping-up and changing the scores.  Yeah, just like Major League Baseball.  I believe I noted the same system in the last Yankees game.  I love Australia.

Don't think I have ever had such fun at a baseball game (sorry Ems)!  In the photos below:  the manual scoreboard (with a shot of Elvis climbing the stairs - it was Elvis night at the ballpark, in honor of his birthday), Ben with the Cavalry mascot, and a shot of our Canberra Cavalry on the field (that's Ben in the red shirt next to the field)!